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Friday, December 13, 2013

Healing With Bentonite Clay

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Well, it's clay! As in clay from the earth- the same clay that people have used for centuries to make pottery. One thing most people don't know is that the same folks that used clay for pottery thousands of years ago, also used it medicinally. Yes, that's right- people have been eating clay for thousands of years! Over the past few years that I have used Bentonite, it seems as though it has consistently gained popularity. There are now soaps, toothpastes, and shampoos that contain bentonite. It is also a common ingredient is several popular detox and cleanse kits!

So, I'm sure you're wondering where it comes from? Bentonite clay is sediment composed of weathered and aged volcanic ash. It is usually quarry mined from deposits ranging from 100 to several thousand feet. After being removed from the earth, it is dried, crushed, and granulated.

How Does it Work To Heal and Detoxify Our Bodies?

Redmond Clay has an excellent, easy to understand explanation of how bentonite clay works:

"At a molecular level, Redmond [bentonite clay] has a negative electrical charge, attracting positively charged toxins. The formation of bentonite resembles tiny business card shapes, with negatively charged wide surfaces and positively charged edges, providing a surprisingly high surface area and powerful drawing effect. As most toxins are positively charged, clay naturally rids the body of toxins as it pulls and holds the toxins into its core."

Essentially, it works to remove a range of toxins and heavy metals from your body by attraction, and then elimination. It is also very mineral rich, and doubles to replenish our body of some vital nutrients. Not to mention that bentonite clay is very alkaline, and also works to balance our body's ph.

Does it Matter if it's Sodium or Calcium Bentonite?

Both of these varieties of bentonite clay work to cleanse and detoxify the body. The only difference between the two is that one is high in sodium, and the other high in calcium. Basically, the clay releases it's minerals in exchange for your toxins. On Redmond Clay's site, they say that their bentonite is neither. They explain that their clay is high in both calcium and sodium, and that it really doesn't matter. Clay is a natural substance, with many variations in mineral content.

"It’s hard to imagine a primitive healer inspecting a ball of medicinal clay and saying, “My goodness! This clay has more sodium than calcium! Spit it out!” "

With that being said, I recommend a clay like Redmond Clay that is both high in calcium and sodium if you plan to use it internally. The reason for this is the sodium content; you may absorb too much sodium from the clay if you use a clay that is high in only sodium. However, if you are using it externally, it doesn't matter!

What Does Matter When Selecting a Bentonite Clay?

No matter what supplement we are buying, we should always educate ourselves on where it came from. In the case of bentonite clay, it is very important to know how it was mined. Since benonite clay attracts heavy metals and toxins in our bodies, it can also absorb metals it comes into contact with outside of your body as well. So, it's incredibly important to know if it was "mindfully mined" without the use of aluminum (or similar) equipment. If the clay has come into contact with metal, it's capacity to absorb toxins has been greatly reduced. The clay from Redmond Clay is active, and ready to absorb toxins. Redmond provides the purest, most mineral rich, and affordable bentonite out there; I highly recommend it.

Getting Started- How to Use Bentonite

The quickest and easiest way to add bentonite clay to your daily routine is to mix one teaspoon of bentonite clay into a 6 ounce glass of water, and drink. This can be used as a remedy for heartburn, diarrhea, constipation, acid reflux, and other digestive issues. Bentonite can be taken daily with other supplements without any detrimental effects. When detoxing, I take up to 10 teaspoons a day. Below are 5 nifty uses for bentonite! Have fun.

5 Easy Uses For Bentonite Clay

I think we all have mercury toxicity to some degree- whether it be from amalgam fillings, vaccinations, or pesticides. Unlike many other toxins, heavy metals are not naturally detoxed from our body. Heavy metals accumulate in our brain, and other vital organs. To remove heavy metals from our body, we have to eat specific foods and take certain supplements. Things like cilantro, garlic, and bentonite are referred to as chelators because they bond to heavy metals so that they can be eliminated. To use bentonite clay for heavy metal detoxing, mix 2 teaspoons of clay powder into an 8 ounce glass of water and drink twice daily.

Our skin is one of the most important organs when it comes to detoxification. Likewise, many people don't realize how easily toxins get absorbed into our bloodstream through the skin! Try this recipe for a nice, relaxing, rejuvenating detox bath. It can also help to soothe skin irritation and rashes.Ingredients

1/4 to 1 cup of bentonite clay (depending on how much you want to spend...)

1/4 cup of epsom salt

2 tablespoons of organic ginger powder

essential oil of your choice (optional)

1. Pour your mixture into your warm bath. The hotter, the better.

2. Hop in, and soak from 20-30 minutes. I recommend putting a thin layer of cheese cloth over your drain, so that it doesn't clog when you're draining the tub.

As I mentioned above, bentonite clay is an incredibly mineral rich substance. This toothpaste will both disinfect your mouth, and remineralize those chompers.

Ingredients

1/3 cup of bentonite clay powder

3 tablespoons of water (or enough to create a thick paste)

1 teaspoon of sea salt

2 teaspoons of organic coconut oil (softened, room temperature)

essential oils of your choice (optional)

1. Mix your bentonite and water until you have a smooth, but thick paste.

2. Add remaining ingredients, and mix well.

3. Store in air-tight container. I keep a wooden spoon in my bathroom to scoop it out and apply to my toothbrush. You can also mix a teaspoon of this mixture into 4 ounces of water, and use as a quick mouthwash.

We are all pretty concerned about the way our faces look, right? Well, bentonite clay is pretty much a cure-all for the common things that bug us about our faces- wrinkles, acne, blemishes, black heads, fine lines, etc. It works to balance the oils on our face, and remove toxins from your pores. Women tend to overload their faces with tons of chemical laden products, and it's silly to think that you're skin won't reflect that. So, give this mask a try for a rejuvenated face! For skin problems like acne or eczema (any affected area), I recommend applying this mask 2-3 times per week.

Ingredients

1/4 cup of bentonite clay powder

water (enough to make a paste)

1. Make a smooth paste with bentonite and water. Remember not to use a metal bowl or spoon for this step.

2. Apply generously to your face. If you suffer from acne or another skin problem that is not limited to your face- apply in necessary areas as well.

3. Relax, and let the mixture dry for 10-20 minutes. Your face will start to feel really tight, and that is totally normal.

4. Rinse with warm water.

Just like our faces, we tend to put a lot of unnecessary chemicals in our hair as well. We also blow dry, straighter, wash, and curl our hair far too often. This hair mask will help to remove some of the chemicals, and help to balance your hair's oil production. You may need to adjust this recipe, based on your hair thickness and length.

Ingredients

1/4 - 1/2 cup of bentonite clay

3/4 cup of water (or enough to make a watery paste)

10-15 drops of essential oil of your choice

1. Mix your bentonite and water until you have a consistent watery paste. Not too water though!

Add remaining ingredients to mixture. Again, make sure that you are not using metal tools for this step!

2. Spray your hair with water until is thoroughly dampened. Begin applying mixture at the roots, and work down to the ends. Once your hair is completely covered, leave it for 10-20 minutes.

6 comments:

I mix clay and water together as a mud and put on burns with a plastic wrap bandage over it so it does not dry out. It heals burns and takes the pain away instantly. I have used it as a poultice for a swollen ankle and wrapped it with plastic wrap to sleep and by the next morning the swelling was gone. My husband mixed 1 Tbls. clay in a tall glass of water, then drank it all. After drinking the clay water for 10 days he had a bone spur dissolve that he was scheduled to have surgically removed. It was a miracle. I have clay in my medical kit and use it for a lot of little emergencies.

What are your thoughts on using the clay as a toothpaste for people with mercury fillings...I have read it is not wise as it pulls out the mercury from your filing and can loosen the filing..which may be good if that's what you want..but I ususally tell people to hold off the clay if they have mercury fillings..what do you think?

In my opinion, yes. The reason I think it's okay is because I believe that bentonite bonds to toxins so that they can be passed from your body via the digestive tract. I'm no expert though, so I'd check with a few more resources. I did use bentonite clay occasionally during the time I breastfed though, and I'm pretty sure me and babe-love are ok. :D

How often can / should I use bentonite clay to wash my hair? I can usually go about 4 or 5 days without washes. I gave up suds / mainstream / detergent shampoo about 3 months ago and I've been using apple cider vinegar, aloe vera and egg washes. I have fine, curly / wavish hair. I also have Hashimotos and Hypothyroidism so I'm trying to battle keeping my hair loss and flakey / irritated scalp under control and grow my hair out in a healthy way. I want to try Morrocco Method, but it's super expensive! Any advice? What works with your hair?

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All recipes are original creations by Tyler Peacock (The Primitive Homemaker), unless otherwise noted. If you wish to use a recipe on your own recipe or blog, please provide your readers with the link to my original recipe.